The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday’s lottery drawing has jumped to an estimated $201 million, with a cash option of $144.1 million.
The winning numbers were: 3, 5, 8, 31 and 38. The Mega Ball was 4 with a Megaplier of 3X.
While no one across the country hit Friday’s $187 million jackpot, three second-prize tickets matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball were sold. A ticket bought in Texas is worth $2 million because the winner spent an extra $1 for the Megaplier option. Tickets bought in Michigan and Addison, New York are valued at $1 million apiece.
In New Jersey, a third-prize, $10,000 ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven on the 600 block of Route 17 south in Paramus. It matched four numbers plus the Mega Ball.
Friday’s winning numbers were: 16, 17, 25, 36 and 37. The Mega Ball was 16, with a Megaplier of 2X.
The odds of buying a jackpot-winning ticket that matches all five numbers and the Mega Ball are 302,575,350 to 1. A $2 ticket gives a player a 1 in 12,607,306 chance of matching five numbers but not the Mega Ball and winning a second-prize of at least $1 million. The odds are 931,001 to 1 of purchasing a $10,000 third-prize ticket.
The game is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The New Jersey Lottery offices in Lawrence are now open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. if players prefer to drop off claims and validate winning tickets in person. Claims can be left in a secure drop box at lottery headquarters. That applies to prizes worth more than $599.50.
If a player wins a prize of $25,000 or more (or otherwise feels more comfortable submitting a claim in person) appointments can still be made to meet with a lottery representative in person by calling 1-800-222-0996.
Prizes valued at $599.50 or less should still be claimed at lottery retailers.
